A USPS Worker Called 911, and Then His Bosses Called Him a Terrorist

[n2doc]

Postal workers sometimes characterize the U.S. Postal Service as a vast bureaucracy indifferent to their gripes. But that’s not always the case. Consider what happened to Thomas Purviance, a longtime USPS employee in St. Louis, who complained about a potential safety hazard in one of the agency’s facilities: According to a recently filed lawsuit, his managers at the USPS responded by accusing him of being a terrorist.

On July 18 the U.S. Department of Labor sued the USPS, claiming the Postal Service retaliated against Purviance, a maintenance worker with 35 years experience on the job who had the nerve to call 911 after his superior dismissed Purviance’s concerns about what he feared was a carbon monoxide leak on the premises. The Labor Department says the alleged retaliation violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which permits employees to contact the authorities when they feel their working conditions are unsafe.

According to the suit, Purviance’s superiors didn’t appreciate his wish to put safety first:

“When the 9-1-1-dispatched response arrived at the [Network Distribution Center], USPS managers immediately characterized Mr. Purviance to the responders as a ‘disgruntled employee,’ said that they suspected Mr. Purviance of making a false report, and that they suspected Mr. Purviance of being a threat to sabotage the NDC building, despite the lack of any factual basis for the allegation that Mr. Purviance was a threat in any way.”

That was only the beginning of Purviance’s troubles. According to the suit, the USPS tried to get the local prosecutor’s office to put him in jail, calling him “a drug user, dangerous, unstable and a ‘terrorist,’ all without any factual basis.” In April 2010, says the suit, Purviance was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat and filing a false report. He spent 18 hours in jail before his attorney got him out. The USPS then tried to have Purviance fired.

more

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-25/a-usps-worker-called-911-and-then-his-bosses-called-him-a-terrorist#r=rss

[rock]

1. Terrorists not leave their personal names

Incidentally what does testing show about the level of CO?

[Ultra_Blue]

3. Important quesetion...

... but there are also legitimate scenarios where he could have thought there was a leak and there was none.

[cui bono]

12. Really? So what if there was no leak?

What's your point?

[cui bono]

16. So what though? Does that justify the USPS behavior? That's the point of the story.

It's gone way beyond whether or not there was a leak.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. He'll be protected through the Whistle Blower counter-suit.

[aggiesal]

8. Yep, they treat whistle blowers really well ...

[vlyons]

4. It would have been so simple

to just test for carbon monoxide leak. Either there was one, or there wasn't. If there was, then the problem could be addressed. If not, the postal workers' concern could have been put to rest. What's wrong with those supervisors?

[BlueJazz]

5. Good Grief...vlyons....those things cost like..like 15.00 !

[SCVDem]

7. CO detectors are less than $25

What is the problem with having a few installed?

What is the cost of legal action?

More idiot management who needs to be sent to the cornfield!

[intheflow]

6. I don't like how they keep saying USPS screwed this guy.

Sounds like a local employee/supervisor problem, not a scourge pervasive throughout the USPS. Seems like the St. Louis supervisor should be suspended for abuse of power and slander.

[devils chaplain]

11. As a USPS employee...

I can say that crappy and unethical management is part of the culture here.

[intheflow]

17. It is everywhere,

but it's not as publicly vindictive and dickish as this move.

[whereisjustice]

9. If you aren't doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about!

Dear Fellow Patriots,

Let this be a lesson to all those who challenge authority. He needs to learn that spying and terror laws are keeping us safe and comfortable in a cocoon of blessed freedom.

Grab your pitchfork and send him to Russia to be with his fellow instigator Mr. Snowden. We will not tolerate ANY dissent in the land of the free, home of the brave.

Now is a good time to show your support for our growing state security apparatus by making a small donation to NSA, local police or a mainstream political party of your choice. Terrorists are among us, so act now!

Yours in safety and liberty,

WIJ

[Stainless]

10. 'Disgruntled Employee'

In my years of experience as an Industrial Designer in an aerospace (rocket motor manufacturing) plant I heard that term used several times by upper management. Someone actually quit because their complaints about having to work on a roof where exhaust stacks were emitting poisonous gas fumes were ignored. The Chief Facilities Engineer referred to the employee as a 'Disgruntled Former Employee' during our monthly Safety Meeting attended by hundreds of workers.

Most government and private industry managers are there because they are reliable yes men and sycophants. Critical thinking is frowned upon and bullying is encouraged. Capitalism will eventually wither and die because this business model is so self-destructive. Too bad the USA will be the loser.

[cui bono]

13. They're lucky he didn't go postal!

[Initech]

14. Wait - the guy calls 911 about a serious health hazard, and *HE'S* the terrorist?

[WillyT]

19. Our Priorities are SOooo Fucked Up...

& Rec !!!

[Enthusiast]

20. Up is down and down is up.

Soooo fucked up.